Willie Mae Crittenden, a resident of Greenville, died Wednesday, May 22, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 11 a.m. from Lomax-Hannon Auditorium. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery with Hudson Funeral Services of Greenville directing.

She was born on July 30, 1929 in Butler County. Her parents were the Late Eddie Robinson Sr. and Leila Phillips. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alison W. Crittenden Sr.; a daughter, Mary C. Andrews, and all her brothers and sisters, Leavy Robinson, Eddie Robinson Jr., William Robinson, Annie Laura Lawson, Eddie Mae Smiley and Alice Roper.

At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and joined the Butler Chapel AME Zion Church where she was faithful in attendance. She sang in the senior choir, served on many boards and participated in many church activities.

She received her early education from Greenville Training School. She married Alison Ward Crittenden Sr. in 1949 and lived in Greenville the majority of her life. She worked for various companies, but wasn’t really content until she worked for herself as a daycare provider. Miss Willie Mae loved being &uot;the mom away from home&uot; for many children.

She was definitely a family-oriented woman. You could run into her anytime and she would willfully brag about her children and their accomplishments. Something that made her even more proud: her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the love of her life.

Miss Willie Mae also enjoyed listening to gospel music, working crossword puzzles and chatting with neighbors and friends.

She lived a full and useful life. Family and friends were blessed to have her for 78 years.

She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted family including two sons, Elder Alison (Vernice) Crittenden Jr. of Battle Creek, Mi. and Phillip Douglas Crittenden of Birmingham; three daughters, Illia Kate (Charlie) Hayes of Battle Creek, Minister Julia Alice Cahee of Killeen, Texas and Sue West Harris of Miami, Fla.; six grandsons, Andre, Kenneth and Antonie Crittenden of Birmingham, Minister Darren Lucas of Texas, Charles and Richard Harris of Miami; four granddaughters, Jeanette Meshea Andrews of Greenville Angie (Laurence) Wynn and Tymico Johnson of Battle Creek and Keisha Harris of Miami; four great-granddaughters, Mykila, Tonie and Ty’Jah Johnson of Battle Creek and Alyson Andrews of Greenville; one aunt, Lessie Beauford of St. Claire Shores, Mi.; one sister-in-law, Beverly (William) Robinson of Albion, Mi.; one brother-in-law, Joe Crittenden of Louisville, Ky., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many, many friends.